IKEA

Swedish furniture company. Founded in 1943, it sells low cost, modern home furniture and accessories, as well as bathroom and kitchen fixtures, around the world. It is known for its inexpensive, youthful appeal, low cost materials such as particle board, catalogue and self-service shops, and flat packaging requiring assembly by its customers.

The first IKEA shop was opened in Älmhult, Kronoberg County, Southern Sweden, in 1958, and over the next 50 years retail outlets spread to nearly 40 countries. Shops are usually large, blue boxes and often feature children's play areas and cafeterias serving Swedish food. A one-way system encourages customers to walk through the entire shop.

The company was founded by Ingvar Kamprad (1926– ), then 17 years old, who used his own initials plus the first letters of the farm (Elmtaryd) and village (Agunnaryd) where he grew up to create the acronym IKEA. The original business sold pens, wallets, jewellery, and picture frames. He introduced furniture in 1947, published his first catalogue in 1951, and opened his first showroom in 1953. IKEA opened in the USA in 1985 and in the UK in 1987. IKEA shops are franchises operating under the Inter IKEA Systems B V corporation, headquartered in Delft, the Netherlands.